The top promise Aatu Räty is currently perhaps the most dangerous offensive duo in the Finnish Championship League together with Petrus Palmu, writes Sports Simo Arkko.
Olli Jokisen success as head coach cannot be measured by the fact that Jukurit is at the top of the series. There are many more important things behind his success.
Jokinen has emerged as an excellent mentor to young players.
Before this Aatu Rädy the career was in a downturn. Even the promise made in the NHL’s No. 1 reserve last season fell out of the Young Lions team, and he didn’t succeed in the SM League as expected.
In the end, Räty was only booked in the second round last summer at number 52. Aleksi Heimosalmi.
After six matches this season, the road in Kärpi was still blocked. Räty had little playing time despite a shortage of skilled centers in Kärpi. Often Räty even dropped out of the lineup, what the then head coach did Lauri Mikkola got to comment on Kaleva (you move to another service).
– I’m not going to start explaining why he’s not playing now. I always try to hit the best roster on the ice and get the combinations that work. I don’t think it makes sense to write about Aatu Rädy whether he plays or not. Everyone has seen his game this season, Mikkola said.
Räty played six matches in Kärpi and scored one pass. He scored about 11 minutes per match.
There are certainly many reasons why Räty did not succeed in Fly. Mikkola’s comment was already astonishing at the time, but in retrospect, with Rädy’s top products, the comment gets into an even stranger light.
Did Räty finally get the support and opportunity he needed? Did Flies take advantage of his strengths?
For Kärpi, Rädy’s failure is certainly a big loss of image, which is why the root causes need to be clarified. The situation is very much reminiscent of an Oulu-minded person Mikael Granlund, who eventually transferred to HIFK at the age of 17. The end is history.
Equally, all of Räty moved to the Jukuri, where the footprint has been devastating. In 32 matches the points have accumulated 12 + 21 = 33. The development has also been reflected in the start-ups. Räty has grabbed starts with an efficiency of 52.2 per cent, compared to 44 per cent in Kärpi during the first half of the year, and 47.2 last season.
In Jukuri, Räty has received tips from Olli Jokinen for, among other things, getting started. Already last autumn, after the first days, Räty commented to STT how nice it was to get praise during the trainings, because in Kärpi they were not enough. Admittedly, he stated that he had nothing against the Fly.
The acclaimed Räty currently forms perhaps the most dangerous offensive duo in the SM League Petrus Palmun with.
It is natural that players succeed differently in different clubs. However, it is striking that Räty is not the only one of Jokinen’s shelter.
Also in the youth World Championships once excelled Patrik Puistola has petrified significantly. He has finished 13 + 8 = 21 in 45 matches, while JYP scored 4 + 10 = 14 in 52 matches.
20 years old Markus Oden has in turn struck a surprising 10 goals and a total of 17 power points during his new season.
These are significant growth stories for Finnish hockey. That is why Olli Jokinen’s way of making school top promises must be learned.
As a small country, Finland cannot afford to lose its top promising players.
Jukurit will face Kärpät in the Finnish Ice Hockey League on Wednesday at 6.30 pm. The six-match Finnish Championship league round will be followed by Puheen’s Hockey Tour from 18.02.